Nicola Sturgeon under fire in EU propaganda row

NICOLA Sturgeon faced a backlash last night as it emerged she will spend taxpayers' cash on pro-EU 'propaganda'.

Nicola Sturgeon has come under fire for plans to use taxpayers' money to campaign against a Brexit

Officials revealed the SNP administration plans to use Scottish Government resources to campaign.

Scottish taxpayers are already contributing to David Cameron's battle to Remain in the June 23 referendum. Ministers are free to use government resources spelling out their case until a purdah period starts on May 27.

Watchdog body the Electoral Commission will decide which recognised campaign groups get grants of taxpayers' cash to pursue their aims.

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The First Minister's aides confirmed more cash will come from Holyrood's coffers as she makes a case for the EU. The move could see publicly funded posters and leaflets sent out.

This is a similar misappropriation of taxpayers' money and usurps the right of the Scottish people to have a fair and balanced debate

Get Britain Out director Jayne Adye

And papers drafted by civil servants setting out the pro-EU case are expected to be published. During the independence campaign the Scottish Government spent £1.3million of public funds on its White Paper setting out the case for separation.

The Commons Public Administration select committee later criticised Scotland's most senior mandarin, Sir Peter Housden, for allowing the document to be published.

It found large sections were politically 'partisan' and failed to meet 'factual standards'.

Get Britain Out director Jayne Adye said SNP ministers had ignored the damning report and were planning another 'abuse' of public cash.

She said: "This is a similar misappropriation of taxpayers' money and usurps the right of the Scottish people to have a fair and balanced debate on our membership of the EU."

David Cameron faced accusations of scaremongering this week after two Whitehall reports claimed quitting the EU would hit UK exports and lead to a "decade of uncertainty".

Ukip's Scottish leader David Coburn warned against more public cash going on pro-Brussels 'propaganda'.

The MEP added: "It is appalling the SNP should be using taxpayers' money to persuade people to stay in the EU with dodgy dossiers or fallacious files."

The Scottish Government said it expected "to use the resources that we have" because of its position on remaining in the EU.

Asked if it planned to publish papers similar to those of the UK Government, Ms Sturgeon's spokesman said: "There is likely to be something spelling out in broad terms why the Scottish Government believes continued EU membership is in our best interests."

Former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars has launched a campaign urging nationalists to set aside 'blind' party loyalty to back Brexit.

He said wanting to break away from Westminster while surrendering sovereignty in Europe made no sense, adding: "Leaving the EU delivers what member state status cannot - real independence on key policies, controlled only by ourselves and the unfettered ability to make our own laws.

"It's called sovereignty and nationalists used to support it."

Ms Sturgeon's spokesman said Mr Sillars was entitled to his views but claimed the vast majority of SNP opinion was behind campaigning for staying in the EU.